Safety-bridle.



A. W.- BROWN.'

SAFETY BRIDLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1913.

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SAFETY BRIDLE.

LPPLIOATION FILED MAY 24, 1913.

1,126,697. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PEYERS 60.. FHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D, C.

ABIA W. BROWN, OF FREDONIA, ARIZONA.

SAFETY-BBIDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed May 24, 1913. Serial No. 769,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABIA V. BROWN, citizen of the United States, residing at Fredonia, in the county of Goconino and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Bridles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device whereby horses may be prevented from running away and vicious animals more easily handled.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an etlicient apparatus for the purpose indicated which will be ready for instantaneous use in case of emergency, and which can be operated by the driver readily and quickly, however inexperienced the driver may be.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a specially constructed bridle wherein means is provided for covering or blind-folding the horse over which the bridle is arranged, for subduing the animal and to a great extent preventing serious accidents caused by runaway horses.

The invention still further resides in the provision of novel and peculiar means forming a part of the attachment or apparatus whereby the shutters or blinds may be retained over the eyes of the animal, the operation of the retaining means being controlled by the manipulation of a suitable cord extending from the attachment to the drivers seat.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is av front elevation illustrating the manner in which the blinds or curtains are operated; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the disposition of the operating cords; Fig. 4; is a similar view, parts being shown in section illustrating the manner in which the pulleys or rollers are disposed upon the bridle; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view,

partly broken away of one of the curtains and its support means; Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the curtain operating and retaining means; Fig. 7 is a similar view taken transversely to that of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is asection on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the sliding blade member.

Referring now to the description of the drawings wherein is illustrated the pre terred form of my invention the numeral 1 designates a bridle of the ordinary construction and arrangement having a pair of curved strips 2 arranged thereupon, the said strips being disposed, one above and the other below the eyes of the animal upon which the safety bridle is arranged.

A central vertically extending strip 3 is secured to the strips 2 between the eyes of the animal, the said strip 3 being curved from the upper strip 2 backwardly upon the animals head between the ears where it is secured to the bridle 1 at the top thereof.

Substantially L-shaped brackets 4t are secured to the bridle 1, two upon each side thereof, the upper of the said brackets being adjacent the point of connection between the upper strip 2 and the said bridle, while the lower of the said brackets are secured-to the point of connection between the lower of the said strips 2 and the said bridle, each set of brackets having a spring controlled curtain pole 5 of the ordinary construction arranged therebetween around which suitable blinds or curtains 6 are normally wound. By providing a spring upon the interior of the curtain pole 5 the curtains are normally retained thereupon in wound or rolled condition so as to in no way interfere with the sight of the animal except in cases of emergency, and at which time the curtains are unrolled and drawn across the eyes in a manner to be hereinafter fully described.

A suitable casing '7 is secured or arranged upon the animals neck through the medium of a strip 8, the casing 7 being disposed adjacent a tubular member 9 likewise mounted upon the animals neck and supported in proper place by means of the bridle 1 to the top of which it is secured.

A sliding plate member 10 is arranged upon the interior of the casing 7, the said member being supported in proper place at one end by means of the operating cord 11, the latter extending rearwardly from the said casing to the drivers seat in the vehicle to which the animal is hitched. The opposite end of the plate 10 from that of the operating cord 11 is attached to a cord or wire rod 12, the said rod extending through the tubular member 9 and termi- 'nating at its forward extremity in a ring 13 to which the operating cords 14 of the curtains are attached.

A guide-way 15 is formed upon the vertically extending strip 3 of the bridle attachment through which the curtain operating cords 14 extend, certain of the cords passing over pulleys or rollers 16 carried by the upper strip 2 of the head or bridle attachment, and the other cords passing over similar rollers 17 secured to the lower of the said strips 2, all of the said cords being connected at their extremities as at 18 to the curtains or blinds 6 for operating or unrolling the latter by the operation of the cord 11 from the drivers seat. By arranging the cords 14: over the pulleys 16 and 17 as is clearly illustrated in Figs-2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the curtains 6 are unrolled and drawn across the eyes of the animal, following the contour or outline of the strips 2 and extending toward each other to the vertically extending strip 3 where they are retained, when occasion demands, by the retaining means to be hereinafter fully described.

A disk or plate 19 is rigidly mounted upon the cord or rod 12 against which one end of an expansion spiral spring 20 abuts, the opposite end of the said spring engaging an inwardly directed annular flange 21 formed upon the interior of the tubular member 9 near the forward end thereof, the opening 22 formed by the said flange adapted to effect a passage way for the cord 12 through which it extends as is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Enlargements 23 are formed integrally with and upon each face of the plate member 10, the said enlargements having parallel beveled faces 24 adapted to engage oppositely disposed enlargements 25 projecting inwardly from and formed integrally with the casing 7. The said projections being disposed centrally within the said casing and the faces of the said projections extending parallel with and upon the same plane as the beveled faces 2 of the enlargement 23. By pulling the operating cord 11, the plate member 10 is drawn rearwardly bringing certain of the beveled faces 24 into engagement with certain of the beveled faces of the said inwardly directed enlargements 25, this engagement causing the plate to move upwardly by a continued pull upon the operating cord 11 until a shoulder 26 formed within the said enlargement 23 is engaged by a leaf spring 27 secured as at 28 upon the interior of the casing 7. The engagement between the spring 27 and the shoulder 26 will support or retain the plate member 10 in drawn or pulled condition with the spring 20 compressed by reason of the movement of the disk or plate 19 engaged thereby, the said movement of the plate in turn moving the cords 14 and causing the blinds or curtains 6 to be drawn across the eyes of the animal in the manner above set forth where they are retained until subsequently returned to their normal position by reason of the disengagement between the spring 27 and the shoulder 26. A continued pull of the operating cord 11 will force the shoulder out of engagement with the leaf spring 27 and will allow certain of the beveled faces of the said enlargement 23 to engage the opposite beveled faces of the enlargement 25, the said engagement forcing the plate member 1.0 downwardly and allowing the said plate to be returneo to its normal position by reason of the spring pressure brought to bear upon the disk 19.

rlaving described the detail construction of the device it now remains to fully set forth the operation and relation of the several parts. Should occasion demand, the operating cord 11 is pulled rearwardly from the drivers seat until the enlargement 23 engages the projections 25 of the casing 7, this engagement forcing the said plate upwardly and allowing the leaf spring 27 to engage the shoulder 26 of the said enlargement 23 in which position the operating cord may be released and the plate member 10 retained in drawn position. As the plate 10 is drawn rear-wardly the cord or rod 12 is likewise moved thereby compressing the spring 20 and operating the cords 14 which are attached to the curtains or blinds 6. The movement of the cords 14 over the pulleys l6 and 17 provided therefore will cause the curtains to be evenly drawn across the eyes of the animal upon which the bridle is arranged thereby shutting out the light from the animals eyes, which condition, it has been proven upon test subdues and pacifies the animal and restores to him a natural or quiet demeanor. W'hen it is desired that the curtains should be returned to their normal rolled position a continued pull of the operating cord 11 will cause the spring 27 to disengage the shoulder 26 and will bring the beveled faces of the said enlargement 23 into engagement with the beveled faces of the said projection 25, the spring 20 returning the plate member 10 to its normal position, the latter being forced downwardly during its return movement as above described. As the plate member 10 is returned, the curtains 6 are likewise rerolled by reason of the springs provided therefor and sight is again restored to the animal and the device made ready for a second operation if required.

It will be seen from the above, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the cords and pulleys are so arranged upon the bridle attachment as to evenly draw the curtain over the animals eyes; that the entire operation of the device is controlled from the drivers seat; and that the engagement between the enlargement 23 and the projection 25 of the casing actuates and controls the entire operation of the safety device.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment is the most ellicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction, pro-portion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, retainmg means arranged adjacent the said rollers and means connecting the said retaining means with the said curtains for operating the latter according to the operation of the said retaining means, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, curtains mounted upon rollers, carried by the body portion of the said device, retaining means arranged adjacent the said rollers and means including a spring controlled cord connecting the said retaining means with the said curtains for unrolling the latter according to the operation of the said retaining means, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, spring controlled curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member arranged Within a suitable casing disposed adjacent the said rollers, and means including a spring controlled cord connecting the said plate member to the said curtains for unrolling the latter from the said rollers according to the movement of the said plate member, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, spring controlled curtains mounted upon vertically extending rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member disposed adjacent the said rollers, an immovable casing for said plate member,

means connecting the said plate member to the said curtains, and enlargements formed upon the said plate member adapted for engagement with said casing to maintain the curtain unrolled, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, spring controlled curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member arranged within a casing disposed adjacent the said rollers, a tubular membe into which said plate member extends, means connecting the said plate member to the said curtains, spring means arranged within the said tubular member for controlling the movement of the said plate member and means carried by the said plate member for operating the same and unrolling the curtains from the said rollers, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a device of the character described, spring controlled curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device; a plate member arranged Within a casing disposed adjacent the said body portion, means connecting the said plate member with the said curtains, the said means being arranged over rollers carried by the 'said body portion, a tubular member into which one end of said plate member extends, said tubular member being carried by the said body portion adjacent the said casing, projections formed Within said casing, and means carried by the said plate member adapted to engage said projections ftl retaining the plate member in the desired position, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a device of the character described,

spring controlled curtain members mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member arranged within a casing disposed adjacent the said rollers, means connecting the said plate member with the said curtains for operating the latter according to the movement of the said plate member, enlargements formed integrally with the said plate member, and projections formed integrally with the said casing, the, said enlargements adapted to engage the said projection for throwing the said plate member into locked position, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the character described, curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member arranged Within a casing disposed adjacent the said rollers, a spring disposed within said casing, enlargements formed integrally With the said plate near one end thereof, the said enlargements having parallel beveled faces, and projections formed integrally with the said casing, the movement of the said plate member adapted to engage the beveled faces of the said enlargement with the said projections, for throwing the said enlargement into engagement with the said spring for locking the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a device of the character described, curtains mounted upon rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a plate member arranged within a casing disposed adjacent the said rollers, the movement of the said plate member adapted to operate the said curtains, and V an enlargement formed integrally with the said plate member, the said enlargement having parallel beveled faces, certain of the beveled faces having shoulders formed therein, oppositely disposed projections formed integrally with the said casing between which the said plate member is adapted to slide, the said projections having parallel beveled faces adapted to be engaged by the said beveled faces of the enlargement during sliding movement of the said plate member, such sliding movement adapted to throw the said enlargement into engagement with suitable means carried by the said casing for looking the said plate member and the said curtains in operative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of vertically extending spring controlled curtains mounted upon spring controlled rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a tubular member carried by the said body portion, a casing arranged adjacent the said tubular member, a plate member slida-bly mounted within the said casing, means con necting the said plate member to the said curtains for operating the latter during sliding movement of the said plate member, spring means contained within the said tubular member adapted to control the movement of the said plate member and means carried by the said plate member adapted to engage means arranged within the said casing for locking the said plate member and the said curtain in operative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of parallel curtains mounted upon vertically extending spring controlled rollers carried by the body portion of the said device, a tubular member arranged adjacent the said rollers, a casing disposed adjacent the said tubular member, a plate member slidably mounted within the said casing, means connecting the said plate member to the said curtains, said means adapted to be arranged over rollers carried by the said body portion for operating the said curtains according to the movement of the said plate member, spring means contained within the said tubular member for controlling the movement of the plate member, a leaf spring arranged within the said casing, enlargements formed integrally with the said plate member, and projections formed integrally with the said casing, the said enlargements adapted to engage the said projections during sliding movement of the said plate member for throwing the latter in engagement with the said leaf spring for locking the said plate member and the said curtains in operative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABIA V. BROXVN.

Witnesses:

HERBERT E. RIGGS, S. L. LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.. Washington, D. C. 

